
2023 Best Outdoor Doormat Buying Guide
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According to the Institute of Industrial Laundries in the U.K., 80% of the dust, dirt, and grime of buildings are “tracked-in” from the outside.
Not only that, but one square yard of quality grade carpeting can actually accumulate half a kilo of harmful dirt over a week — twice as much in bad weather.
Without an outdoor doormat as your gatekeeper you are inviting in unwelcome guests - from dirt and debris to even worse that can affect air quality inside your house.
So it only makes sense to protect your home and health with an outdoor mat worth its weight.
From materials, size, and even color, let us help you find the perfect welcome mat for your front door.
Here are the most popular outdoor doormat materials and their pros and cons:
Good Old Rubber Mats
Maybe not the prettiest of mats, but rubber is one of mankind’s greatest inventions - it’s tough, durable, waterproof and flexible.
The drawbacks? Rubber gets super hot in the summer and in the winter can develop cracks from frigid air. Also, rubber doormats look best in industrial settings so they tend to detract from, rather than add to, a warm, inviting entrance.
Coir Doormats
The benefit of coir doormats is in the variety of cute and funny doormats available in this style, which gives a lot of versatility to your door decor.
Unfortunately coir breaks down easily and will shed. As cute as they are at first, they do not stand up well to bad weather and show wear quickly. You will need to replace coir doormats often since rain, snow, sand and sun can hasten their breakdown. We recommend coir doormats for indoor use only.
Fabric or Carpet Doormats
There are many choices available in fabric or carpet doormats but if you plan to place it outside, be sure it is made of synthetic fibers.
Natural fiber doormats are best for indoor use so avoid placing a doormat outdoors if it is cotton, wool, or cotton blend. Look for fabric or carpet doormats that have been specifically made for outdoor use, and are fast-drying.
Synthetic Rope Doormats
Synthetic material that won't break down in bad weather can make the best front door mats. There are many color and style options available in outside doormats woven from synthetic rope. While all synthetic rope options will last longer than natural fiber, the heavier-duty the rope the longer your doormat will last.
Our polypropylene and polyethylene Lobster Rope Doormats use nautical rope designed to tether lobster traps to buoys in the sea. This rope is made for all elements - wind, rain, snow, ice, and sun - and dries extremely quickly. It is an ideal material for an outdoor doormat and they last for years.
Check out all of our weatherproof Lobster Rope Outdoor Doormats right here - over 30 colors available.
You'll know pretty fast if your doormat is not weatherproof.
After a rain shower does your doormat dry quickly? If not, the inevitable will occur: mold and mildew will grow and it will be dragged into your home by everyone who walks over the doormat.
Mildew and mold can negatively affect your indoor air quality and overall health so the last thing you want is it brought into your home every time someone crosses the threshold.
Not to mention that fungi growth can leave quite an unattractive odor - not exactly the first impression you are trying to make!
Mold and mildew love moisture, so the best outdoor doormat must be made of material that dries quickly, like Lobster Rope Doormats.
The most common question people have when buying an outdoor doormat is how big it should be. Standard outside doormat sizes begin at 18 x 30 - this is one of the most commonly purchased front door mat size. It works well for single doors.
A standard front door measures around 36" wide. We recommend a large outdoor doormat around 21 x 33 or 24 x 36/38 for front doors. Large outdoor doormats balance your door well and make a statement.
TIP: grab a piece of chalk and draw the size of each doormat before you buy so you can see the scale and balance of each size against your door.
A great rule of thumb is that your front door mat size be about the same width as your front door or slightly less.
Doormats that trap dirt, mud and sand are at a greater risk of bacteria growth. On the other hand, the best outdoor doormat catches and releases dirt. This is because the doormat that traps dirt gets bogged down over time with all of the "yuck" they've captured at the door. The only way to fix that is to beat the dirt out of them. This regular doormat "thwacking" is not only time-consuming but actually quite hard - it feels like you never get it fuly clean. But, if you go that route be sure to wear a mask so you don't breathe in all that you are beating out of the doormat.
Outdoor doormats that catch dirt and pass it through the mat last much longer and are easier to clean. Just lift them up and sweep the dirt away. All Lobster Rope Doormats are designed to catch and release dirt, which is why they continue to look so good at your door even after many years of use.
The best outdoor doormats are made of tough materials that hold up to vigorous scrubbing. Lobster Rope Doormats use super durable nautical rope in a raised weave design to scrub the mud and dirt off your boots without affecting the condition of the doormat.
Any doormat designed to dry quickly will work well in the rain, initially. Moisture is an inevitable fact for an outdoor doormat. Being able to recover quickly between exposure to rain, snow, ice and more is key to all outdoor mats for front door lasting for years. For the best outdoor doormat for rain, choose synthetic materials as natural fibers will break down more quickly the more exposed they are to water.
Your heaviest traffic door, typically the front, should have both an indoor and outdoor doormat.
The job of an outdoor doormat is to scrub off dirt, mud and debris before someone enters the home. The job of an indoor doormat is two-fold: first, to collect shoes for homes that request that shoes not be worn inside. Second, if shoes are allowed indoors the doormat must be absorbent so that moisture will not be tracked inside.
With a patio or side door you can often get away with just one doormat, indoor or outdoor, based on your preference.
Outdoor doormats that have a raised weave or feature heavy-duty bristles are the best for removing dirt and mud. You will want a mat that can handle heavy scraping.
Avoid natural fibers for this job, like coir, as they will break down more quickly with heavy use and moisture exposure.
Lobster Rope Doormats are designed with a raised weave that captures mud and dirt, passing it through the doormat. The polypropylene/polyethylene rope will not break down with exposure to water.
Commercial Lobster Rope works double duty to pull tractor from mud.
It's easier than you think to choose the right doormat color for your front door. Here are a few popular design ideas:
M: Material must be weatherproof & water-resistant.
A: Average doormat size for a single door is 18”x30” or 24”x36” for doors with sidelights.
T: Time: Save yours by choosing outdoor mats for front door that can be used year-round.
S: Sun: Choosing an outdoor doormat with added UV protection will help slow the fading process in high-sunlit areas.